"Michael Swanwick - Congratulations from the Future" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swanwick Michael)

CONGRATULATIONSFROM THE FUTURE!
by Michael Swanwick

In response to my perfectly reasonable request for new biographical
information to run with this missive, some version of Michael Swanwick
replies:
****
Dear Sheila;
I didnтАЩt write that piece. It was written by a future virtual reconstruction of
myself created by a society that is desperately trying to atone for how cruelly
neglected I was (and am! and will be!) during my lifetime. But he and I exchange
occasional t-mails over the ChrononetтАФsorry, but IтАЩm not allowed to give you any
details on thatтАФso I can provide you with a rough sketch of what itтАЩs like to be my
future-avatar.
Future Me leads a life of unimaginable blissтАФas of course does everybody
else living on the far side of the Vinge-Stross Singularity. But as a special sign of the
high regard in which he is held, a physical instantiation of our world is maintained in
realtime simply to contain the many trophies and awards that have been showered
upon him. (HeтАЩs the third most honored science fiction writer in posthuman history.)
In almost all respects, his existence is the exact opposite of mine. Which is why the
future feels so guilty!
Virtual Michael Swanwick says that a means has been found whereby you,
your magazine, and the entire world can be retroactively destroyed without
endangering me or the contingent existence of his future timeline, and has very
graciously offered to do so as a punishment for your shameful treatment of me. But
I turned down his offer. IтАЩm not petty.
Your pal,
Michael
****
Greetings, primitive ape-like ancestors!
As the guest editor of the 130th anniversary issue of AsimovтАЩs Science Fiction
and the virtual reconstruction of your eraтАЩs greatest writer (yes, yes, I knowтАФbut
heтАЩs going to get better), it is my happy duty to congratulate the publishers of
AsimovтАЩs, editor Sheila Williams, and the magazineтАЩs many readers on your thirtieth
anniversary. Well begun! But rest assured that your most glorious accomplishments
still lie before you.
Here are just a few of the many highlights (and select low points) that you will
encounter in the coming century:
****
 2014: Aliens Invade Earth. Revenues soar at AsimovтАЩs as countless tentacled
monstrosities subscribe in order to bring themselves up to speed on our planetтАЩs
history and culture. Subsequently, human defense forces have little difficulty
subduing the aliens, who have somehow acquired an exaggerated opinion of the
complexity of human society and the superiority of our technology.
****
2021: Special Nanotechnology Issue a Flop. The first-ever magazine issues
encoded into the genes of Bacillus cereus bacteria are released into the wild as part
of AsimovтАЩs Science FictionтАЩs grossly misnamed тАЬviral marketing project.тАЭ Alas,
even those readers equipped with the technology to decode their issues have trouble
locating them. The following monthтАЩs magazine reverts to self-editing тАЬsmart paper.тАЭ